Thoughts of Sven.

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Today we are happy to introduce Spreact, a new open source platform for decentralized events and actions (i.e. events / actions that happen not in one, but several locations). The name Spreact is a combination of the words to spread and to act.

The first release lays the foundation of the platform and is ready to be used for sharing decentralized events. It features:

Resistance against the austerity regime of the Troika and the government – for international solidarity and democratization of all spheres of life

We call for European days of protest against the European Union’s crisis regime in Frankfurt am Main from May 16-19. We intend to carry the resistance against the EU crisis regime, which is currently hurling millions of Europeans of different nations into poverty and distress, to one of the wellsprings of the crisis: right into the middle of the Frankfurt banking district, the seat of the European Central Bank (ECB) and numerous powerful German banks and corporations. We object to all attempts to use nationalist slogans to set employed, unemployed and precariously employed people against each other, no matter whether they live in Germany or Greece, in Italy, France or in other countries. We take a stand for solidarity with the people and movements all over Europe that have been fighting against the attack on their lives and their future in the past months. We will demonstrate against the policies of the EU and the Troika and block the ECB and occupy public places in the Frankfurt banking district: We are BLOCKUPY!

The North African uprisings of the past year have swayed power structures that had been cemented into place over decades. Everywhere on the globe, this rallying cry for a new start has energized people and inspired them with courage. In the USA and in Europe, too, tents have become symbols of protest. In Spain tens of thousands have occupied the central squares and called for “Real Democracy Now!” In Tel Aviv, entire streets were transfigured into camps, and huge rallies placed rising living costs center stage. In Greece, enforced public spending cuts and other neoliberal outrages met with a response of mass uprisings and a series of general strikes.

Initiated by Occupy Wall Street and seemingly out of nowhere, a worldwide movement against the rollback of democracy and attacks on social security and public services has formed. Worldwide, hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to protest internet censorship. The camp at the site of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt continues to exist.

In numerous countries of the European Union, movements and protests are targeting the massive spending cuts imposed by governments of all political persuasions. Wages are reduced, retirement age is hiked up, jobs in the public sector are slashed and public services are closed down by the dozens. In nearly all countries, there are cutbacks in health services and education. Of the billions used to “rescue” the euro, not a cent goes to the people in the affected countries. Instead, the lion’s share flows back to the banks themselves.

The austerity policies imposed by the EU Troika, consisting of the Commission of the EU, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and dominated by the German and French governments, amounts to a de facto abolition of democratic procedures. In Greece and Italy, for instance, “technocratic governments” have been installed, whose task is reduced to simply implementing the austerity policies from Brussels.

Let’s counter their austerity politics with our solidarity! Let’s show loud and clear that we are not going to stand by while the consequences of the crisis are placed on the shoulders of working, unemployed and retired people, as well as students, refugees and many others, whether elsewhere or right here.

The Frankfurt days of protest follow right on the global action day on May 12 and the anniversary of the first asamblea in Madrid. At the same time, there will be direct action against the G8 summit that has already been moved from Chicago to Camp David due to worries regarding protests.

On May 17, we will occupy the parks and central squares of the city of Frankfurt, creating space for our discussions and exchange of ideas. On May 18, we will block the regular business operations of the Frankfurt banks to give our anger over the Troika’s policies a tangible shape. To bring home the protests’ broad base, we will gather for a final mass rally on May 19. Traveling from various countries and regions, people will converge in Frankfurt to join the days of protest.

BLOCKUPY FRANKFURT, is a movement of groups and activists from the occupy movement, from jobless initiatives and crisis action groups, trade unionists, of activists from Attac, from environmental, peace action, anti-racist, immigrant and anti-fascist initiatives, of groups and organizations of the radical left, youth and student organizations and of activists of diverse local struggles and from left parties.

Tonight, there will be a debate in Erlangen about the recent education protests that took place in Germany and Europe, to which I’m invited as a guest speaker. The discussion will cover the analysis, criticism and perspective of the protests, what difference the protests made and if / how we can achieve a just, democratic and emancipatory education system.

Animal! from Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s is one of those rare albums where almost everything is done right and almost every song is a joy to listen to. It starts off with three weaker tunes only to show its full potential beyond. Most of the tracks are remarkably imaginative and combine fancy turning points with sections of different style. Below is a pick of the best songs of this album and all of them really stand out: